Little caps floating in the water can look like an easy meal for a wide variety of wildlife, from fish and sea turtles to marine birds. Even in a landfill, plastic caps still pose a threat to animals such as seagulls, which scavenge through the masses of trash looking for food. Trash and litter along our coasts and in our waterways can be harmful to our health, the environment, and the economy. Most trash that ends up in the water begins its journey on land.

Plastics in their stomachs can prevent them from eating a full meal. Plastics can also get stuck not getting through the digestive system.

According to the Sea Turtle Conservancy, eating bottle caps can give turtles a condition called "bubble butt" - turtles that float as a result of trapped gas caused by harmful decomposition of marine debris inside a turtle's body. The gases cause the turtle to float, which leads to starvation or makes them an easy target for predators.

How Bottlecaps are Killing Birds

John Klavitter, the deputy wildlife refuge Manager of the Midway Atoll National Wildlife refuge takes a closer look inside a dead albatross. Watch this disturbing video to learn more about the effects of carelessly dropping the top!